James Fortune finds his 'Identity' on newest CD

By Bryan Dupont-Gray |
March 15, 2012

James Fortune sings during halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Photo By Karen Warren

James Fortune sings during halftime of an NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Photo By Rick Diamond

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: James Fortune and FIYA perform at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards at Grand Ole Opry House on January 14, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Stellar Awards)

Photo By Rick Diamond

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: James Fortune and FIYA perform at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards at Grand Ole Opry House on January 14, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Stellar Awards)

Photo By Rick Diamond

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 14: James Fortune and FIYA perform at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards at Grand Ole Opry House on January 14, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Stellar Awards)

Photo By CD cover

"Identity" CD cover, by gospel singer James Fortune of Houston.

The hectic pace of touring was wearing on gospel singer James Fortune and you could see it in his face. His eyes were heavy and he was moving a little slower than usual, too.

To promote his latest CD, "Identity," he's performed from New York to Atlanta to Chicago, met people in all directions, and signed autographs.

But he's not stopping. The popular gospel singer and choir director at Higher Dimension Church has sold around 100,000 units of each of his five albums.

He returned home to Houston after a vigorous tour for his new album, which released on Jan. 18 and has charted at number one in Billboard's "Gospel and Christian" category and number seven for "Top Current Albums." This also is his first album with his own record label, Light Records, since leaving Black Smoke Music Worldwide.

"I'm blessed to be living my dream, so it's definitely not a complaint," Fortune said, "but we make sure we manage the time right. I think the thing that happens most is missing the kids while I'm on the road, and so I try to spend enough time with them."

While on the road, Fortune said he enjoys meeting fans. He mentioned one woman who came forward to meet him after attending a concert with her 9-year-old son. The woman said she had dropped her son off at school and had no intention of picking him up, believing she could no longer go on living. While she was driving home, Fortune's "I Trust You" came on the radio.

"She had to pull over and she started crying," said Fortune. "She said my song was the reason why she's still alive today."

Fortune has always been a family man. He looks out for Cheryl, his wife of 10 years, and their three children: 7-year-old Jamee, 6-year-old James, and 5-year-old Jailee.

While he can claim musical success now, just five years ago his story was very different.

"Me and my wife were both laid off, I was only working part time at the church, so we fell into some deep financial troubles and our credit wasn't good," Fortune said. "One of our cars got repossessed and eventually we couldn't afford the rent at the house we were living in, so we ended up moving out."

After the second car was repossessed, they faced the harsh reality of being broke and homeless, staying in motels and hotels and wondering if they'd ever dig themselves out.

While his doubt and frustration toward God showed at first, he soon was inspired to write "I Trust You," the song that would jump start his career.

"I was praying to God and really questioning him," Fortune said. "Being a minister and often encouraging other people, now I'm finding myself needing to be encouraged, and I'm questioning God myself. God began to share with me about trusting and believing him, and that's when I began to write the lyrics to 'I Trust You' and from there it was a complete turnaround for me and my family."

It also was that very song, which features on James Fortune's album, "The Transformation," that stayed on the Gospel National Airplay chart for more than 30 weeks at number one.

Fortune's strong baritone voice dominates his work and "Identity" stands out for its modern, invigorated gospel sound. Songs range from the high-octane, fast-paced feel "Never Again" and "My God" to the slow, mellow and emotional ballads such as "Still Able" and "Revealed."

After receiving the ASCAP songwriting award for "I Believe" and "Encore" and recording chart-topping singles and albums, Fortune and his choir ensemble, FIYA, continued on with "Identity." The album also features artists Monica and Fred Hammond, and songs such as "The Curse is Broken" and "What If" encourage listeners to see God at the center of their world.

So if you think you have to be rich or live in an expensive house or drive a fancy car to have a positive identity, Fortune would have you consider otherwise.

"Sometimes we get so caught up in asking for more money, a bigger house, or a better car and, as ministers, we get so caught up in doing the ministry that we forget that our first responsibility is to be more and more like Him," he said. "My message for this album was more like 'I want to represent you better, God. I want to be more like you.' "

Although his faith has been tested, Fortune believes he's at the top of his game. He said his belief in God is just as strong now as it was when he was homeless and barely holding on.

"My relationship with God is the most important relationship of my life," said Fortune, "and it affects the kind of husband I am, the kind of father I am, and the kind of minister that I am. My life begins and ends with God, and everything else is impacted by that."